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Each year it seems time passes by quicker than the year before.I wonder if it has anything to do with the
way our society multi functions these days. We text as we walk, we listen to
music as we work, we watch TV as we work out on our treadmills...you get the
picture.
Long gone are the days we actually did one thing at a time. Once in a while
it may happen, but too rare to notice. Every part of our day becomes listed in
a schedule to make us proficient in our outputs.
Now that the holiday season is upon us once again I wonder how fast it will
go by, and I am trying to slow things down.
I want to take the time to notice once again all the wonderful parts of
Christmas.I am not worrying about
gifts, or cards, or parties.Instead I
am looking forward to the conversations.I am anxious to talk with my children again… my grown children that is.
I sit here now soaking in the warm memories of the years gone by, and hope
to get it out of my system.No more
thinking about the little children running about my feet, the smiles gone by
and the wishing that I could freeze and relive those times.I want the chance for this year’s festivities
to have a life of their own, and not be shadowed by yesteryear’s memory. So here is my pledge – to let the past stay there, and open up the door to a
new Christmas present.To enjoy the
moments as they happen, and hope that time slows down enough for me to
appreciate and savor the conversations. I sincerely hope you also take the time to live in your moments, and enjoy
your holiday. Here's to Christmas Present!
The retelling of a Hoosac Tunnel ghost story: A tale of murder and hauntings in 1866
After years of being envisioned, work on the Hoosac Tunnel finally began
in 1852.By 1873 with 193 deaths tallied,
the tunnel was realized.This was a
major accomplishment of the times and was the longest tunnel of the day at 4 ¾ miles
long.Many attribute the success of this
great engineering venture to three factors:the diligent work of the W & F Shanly & Company contractors who
revived the project in 1868, the use of pneumatic drills (Burleigh Drill), and a
safer nitroglycerin along with electric blasting caps (new explosive Tri-Nitro-Glycerin
invented by George M. Mowbray). The project
was sought after by Industrialists of the day, Alvah Crocker a paper
manufacturer in Fitchburg, being the most ardent proponent.There was a long list of Engineers tasked
with the design, many experiencing failure before the final success was
achieved.
Many of the deaths were the
result of cave-ins experienced, air shafts accidents, explosions and more.The most devastating was the collapse after
an explosion in the center shaft on October 17, 1867.The frame work above the center air shaft caught fire
and collapsed into the shaft, causing an explosion from the built up fumes, and
filling the shaft with water. Thirteen workers were trapped and drowned, if not already
killed from the fire.Their bodies were not fully
recovered until a year later.This
brought much speculation about the ‘Bloody Pit’ and slowed the progress of the project.
Among the long list of victims claimed by the ‘Bloody Pit’
were three men who worked together as a team using nitro to blast the monstrous black
rock. The name Ringo Kelly was never mentioned in the official recorded history
of the Hoosac Tunnel.But in 1865 a blast happened and two of the team
ended up buried in rock.
The local gossip claimed Ringo Kelly ignited the blast early, before
the others could reach the safety barrier. Ringo Kelly went missing for a year and a half. Then he was found murdered in the tunnel. Now he is mentioned in bizarre folklore surrounding his murder. Riddled by rumors only, he supposedly
was haunted in 1866 by his two friends, his victims, and killed in vengeance…
The official cause of death for Ringo was strangulation. Still rumors claimed he was chased down by the vengeful
ghosts.He was found dead
in almost the same spot his two coworkers were killed.What really happened to Ringo Kelly?
Now 146 years later no one knows the real story. Did he 'accidentally on purpose'
kill his friends Ned Brinkman and Billy Nash? The rumors claim he
intentionally set the charge early.What
was the motivation for Ringo to end his friend’s lives? There is no explanation
offered. We do know that it was the
first time nitro was being used on a major project of this scope. Nitro is very
unstable, and most likely the entire episode was a mere accident.
Unfortunately for Ringo Kelly, the ghosts of Ned
and Billy didn't understand. A year later they found poor Ringo Kelly dead. What is the real story?Does anyone really know what happened?
Here is one theory about this unfortunate
happening. Could this be the real story and reason behind it all….
Please read for free on your Kindle anytime using the lending library.
If you are interested in more information about the Hoosac Tunnel, its history and folklore of hauntings, please go to these sites attached to this post, and/or watch the film documentaries on the Hoosac Tunnel.
There are many people and
organizations out there who offer web seminars and online classes to help
improve writing skills. Be very careful choosing the right one if you decide to
pay for the knowledge.I have found that
there are many writers, editors and publishers, who freely offer help and assistance and give useful
comments and ideas. Often the information you need is right at your fingertips.
Open up the browser, plug in your
keywords, and begin searching for the information you need.I’ve taken the liberty of plugging (below) a couple
of useful sites that I have found; they have given me insightful information
and remind me of good habits to keep improving my writing skills.
There are also many forums and discussion
groups with real people, with real experience, and they are willing to help. I urge any writer to take advantage of the
knowledge from the community already out there, already discussing the same things we all need - good writing skills.
I have never been one to ask for help,
being an independent free thinker, but the knowledge
I received just by asking is irreplaceable.The “help” from
a cooperative discussion exchanging ideas, and of course the value of
real experience, is priceless.With all
these forums, discussion groups, and the wonderful web browser, it is so easy
to get the information you need.It is very refreshing to have so many writers out there who are
willing to share ideas with other writers.This support has inspired me to continue working, and continue writing.I can do this in my own way, in my own time,
and with my own thoughts.I am not part
of the flock – I am an individual, respected as such, and only one voice among
many other individual and unique voices.
This week I am still editing my book, focusing on the story's structure, to ensure the correct foundation is in place to create the appropriate
element of tension and flow.Just like an old
fashioned sewing machine, where the user always had to keep the tension at the
proper level otherwise the thread would break; the same goes with a story.If the tension is too tight the thread will
snap, and if there is no tension the stitches become a loose and the seam is no
good.
Suggestions to other (aspiring) writers-
1
-do your research, and read 2-
make sure your sentences are properly structured, and read 3-
make sure your idea flows forward while balancing the idea that you want to get
across, and read.
So
you may have ascertained my main idea – to write well you need to know and recognize
good writing.
The best way to do this is
to READ!Happy reading to all.
LINKS:
Community Sites &
tips from Writers/editors/publishers:
There are also so many writers who have blog pages filled
with useful ideas and knowledge regarding formatting, software,
self-publishing, creating ebooks, and much more, to help.
In a recent on-line discussion between writers, it was mentioned that there are many famous authors who are able work closely with assigned editors to complete their work. Since I am not a published author yet, and very new to the process, I am basically on my own and get to work through this "editing process" on my own. I may want to pay for a professional to look at my work when I am finished, before I send it to any potential publishers, but limited to only what my wallet allows. So I am very quickly learning the do's and dont's, and I am grateful for the many blog and discussion sites on the web where writers can share their experiences. Without an editor to guide me, I find myself questioning my own ideas at times. Working on a larger project also causes some confusion for me at times. That's when I step away for a while, and then come back with a fresh view (at least I try to). My story's idea for my first book came to me by chance. I wanted to write something that would horrorify and keep the reader on their toes, because like most, I love a good scare. Then I started reading up on some interesting people I heard about, the Timucua tribe, who are now extinct but used to live in the Florida area. As I did more research, a story emerged. I ended up with a tale of a family curse - tied to a ceremony enacted centuries ago. A young couple meet and together struggle to end the curse, and of course fall in love. There is a lot of family drama, supernatural undertones, and some crime. A real stew! I really hope someone will be able to enjoy the story. Right now I am working on the last few editing steps.... I can't wait until I am finished.
Last week I was on vacation, and I
swore it was going to be relaxing. It's funny how our daily habits creep up,
blind sighting ourselves with the monotony of our everyday rituals. Some things
we just gravitate to like watching the news in the morning with a cup of
coffee....you know, the simple things we do over and over again without even
a second thought.
I skipped a week of my blog during
my vacation and used the time to think about where I was going - my goals and
how I was going to accomplish them. I came to the conclusion that what I needed
most to attain my goals is a good set of writing habits.
Definition of Habit -
1. an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary 2. customary
practice or use 3. a
particular practice, custom, or usage 4. a
dominant or
regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character
or quality 5. addiction,
especially to
narcotics
So what are the best habits to utilize to attain good writing? There are many experts in the field that have lists and secrets. The bottom line is it has to work for the writer. Some of my first thoughts are:
Create and utilize writing project outlines (to have a clear vision)
Create character lists (get to know them in detail
before you start writing the story)
Research (your subject, location or anything relevant)
Be flexible and adjust your original thoughts as necessary to keep the story flowing
Track changes (it is easy to get confused especially writing a larger project)
Write down ideas when they pop in your head (save for future, always have paper & pen)
Set up a schedule THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
Reserve a designated amount of time to sit & write. This is
often the hardest to accomplish because we have so many distractions. So, just
like punching a time clock, schedule time to write. Also needed is time to edit
the writings, and let's not forget that we also have to format, send letters,
and market. This is very daunting when you think of all the time these
activities consume.
My main goal is to stay true to the main objective, and never
give up writing time. This will need to be my most obsessive writing habit -
my addiction.
So much information is at our fingertips,
uploading to multiple sites with the touch of a button. It's wonderful and
exciting but the question is…"Who has time to read it all?"
There is something to be said to pulling the plug
and taking a break from the social dialogue. Turn it off for an opportunity to
actually absorb and process the information we have been bombarded with
already.
So the challenge is - disconnect for a day or so
and see what happens. Believe me it will not make things dull.
Many of us have forgotten how to analyze,
comprehend and truly appreciate these "things" we are exposed to
everyday. I am as guilty as anyone, often forgetting to value the idea. I
sometimes neglect to perceive the deeper thoughts behind the words, and gather only the
face value instead. Many of us jam too much information into a day, leaving us
empty in the end.We need time to reflect.
Our relationships can weaken if we don't take the
proper time to foster them.We instead spend
time cultivating our social media. My point is let's take the time to appreciate
the moment, the idea or the word for what it is, savor it and then add it into
our own personal tapestry, filled with enrichment.Let others know you appreciate and validate their
viewpoints.Step back and give yourself
time to process your own feelings about this intelligence we are exposed to.
Nurture the relationship you have with yourself.
The same applies with writing. During the editing
process, I am experiencing the hardship of honestly seeing what is in front of me. The
story was created in my head well in advance of it hitting the page. To edit
and review the words with fresh eyes is a challenge. To help myself in the
process, I discovered the best method is to wait with patience and give myself
space, step back and remove my preconceptions, and then view again trying to
envision it without anticipations. I must concede, for me this is the hardest
part of writing.
So in an earnest attempt to step back - I will be
on vacation this week! I know it will be rough but I will give it my best shot.
All joking aside, the challenge will be trying not to hop onto the computer.
Even from the beach however, I will still be writing something, if not on the computer
then in my head.
For now, this is me signing off for today.
REM Everybody Hurts click link
I hope you enjoy this music video. Everytime I watch and listen I SEE something else revealing....
Long gone are the days we actually did one thing at a time. Once in a while
it may happen, but too rare to notice. Every part of our day becomes listed in
a schedule to make us proficient in our outputs. 
